DES MOINES, Iowa — The Texas owner and operator of the Iowa State Fair’s giant slide won’t be running it anymore. Thirty-nine-years-ago, Vester Crutchfield paid less than $100,000 for the slide. At $2.50 per ride, Crutchfield told The Des Moines Register that he made about $283,000 last year. The fair has bought the slide from Crutchfield for $512,500.Read more